This is for those concrete contractors who think it`s fine to drill holes in basement wall/bricks for rebar, thinking that this will secure concrete slabs from settling, nonsense!

Every slab along this back wall has settled, so it doesn`t stop concrete from settling and they also created HOLES on outside hollow block wall which will allow water/moisture/insects in. And most likely, there was a permit pulled which means the CITY ok`d this foolish crap.


http://photosmart.hpphoto.com/FilmStripHome.aspx?JobID=...-c45e174683e7&SKU=HP


Pic`s 1-6....hairline vertical cracks and other various openings that allow water into hollow blocks, it stays inside blocks and falls through lower blocks until homeowners see it enter inside on basement floor, along cold joint/cove.

7,8- drain tiles, as usual nuttin` wrong with em and NOT WHY basement wall(s) leak, period end of story.

9- see rebar?

10-12 they drilled holes about every 18-24" for rebar

13-15 builder backfilled with LOTS of concrete and, as usual backfiled with crapload of bricks,wood and other garbage. THIS can/could cause a cave in, as you`ll see.

16- look along where i saw-cut, see edge, see few inches of SOIL beginning to move/slide in

17-19 within 2 minutes, this is what can happen. It often happens because when builder backfills with bunch of bricks/concrete etc it creates instability in the bank, where one digs down, further down ya go the bricks/concrete etc along bank-side can also cave in, shoring will NOT stop these cave ins so please don`t go there. This is why some goofball companys should NOT allow diggers/laborers in holes who have little if any experience but some certainly do.

City ok`s this kind of backfilling, city apparently ok`s drilling holes in walls/bricks and some still want a permit? Want city to come & inspect? lolololllolollll!

Are you getting water coming out chimney door and along cove/cold joint in basement?

This HO was, several reasons/areas where water was FIRST entering OUTSIDE....

after ya click these links you might have to... click "BACK" on right side of links


http://photosmart.hpphoto.com/FilmStripHome.aspx?JobID=...-ba4d8517ced1&SKU=HP


2,3....digging it down on the outside, ONLY where HO leaks inside..chimney chute door and where bottom of bsmt wall & bsmt floor meet.

4,5....yes, water can get into hollow block wall from openings around basement windows or, if you have paneling agst wall then you may not see/notice some water that can also enter through/around bsmt window and run down wall behind paneling

6,7....open mortar joints, wind blown rains and/or sprinklers that soak bricks-joints allow water to enter

8,9,10..hairline cracks, yep, thats all it takes to allow quite a bit of water in/through bsmt wall `n onto floor. Sand was backfilled 15,16 which did somewhat limit the amount of water that was able to enter through hairline cracks.More water would have entered if it was clay backfill, having clay against bsmt wall doesn`t allow water to drain down quick enough, it builds up in the clay soil, expands and easily enters the smallest cracks/openings.

11,12...openings under sill, sill sits on top of hollow block wall. Pic 12, ants on scraper pic didn`t come out so good huh, their lil home under sill/inside block wall/pathway in `n out is about to be taken away, so sorry lil fella`s.

13,14...as usual, NO problem w/any drain tiles, hardly ever is and is NOT why water ENTERS cracks and other openings, believe what ya like

17,18...just about done, WHERE is all the landscaping damage, HUH? Buncha crap-o-la!

This HO will ALSO need to seal/tuckpoint OTHER mortar joints further UP chimney. Openings above grade are just as important as openings/cracks below ground.

One more thing, had 1 person say something about one of my guys tattoos, hey.... would you rather have a guy w/tattoos busting his but who is thoroughly-experienced and gives a crap about your house/basement or, you rather have a guy/crew who is wearing some pretty uniform/all same shirts etc but has little if any real-experience, may be dumb as a stump and only cares how much he is getting paid and when he gets to go home...tired of that crap. Like some goofy uniforms means your going to get a better waterproofing job,i`ve got news for ya..... NONSENSE!!!